Once upon a time football matches across the nation set off in unison, with players lining up for the fabled moment that the clock would tick to 3pm. Everybody knew where they must be at that time, and were comfortable with the idea that halfway through the afternoon football would take over, with its weekly slot pre-arranged.

However, the modern game has seen a staggering change in playing times, with clubs across the world’s big leagues having their fixtures shuffled throughout the day in a bid to milk yet more money from the lucrative television market. It would be naïve to suggest that the power of television should be ignored, with its financial muscle supporting many aspects of the sport, but the warping of the traditional kick-off time may be having a detrimental effect on the spectacle.

This weekend’s clash between Arsenal and Chelsea had all of the potential to be a blockbuster of a tie, after the enthralling 5-3 score-line, in favour of the men in red, from earlier this season. Yet, as the final whistle rang around Emirates Stadium the atmosphere was somewhat subdued, with the 0-0 score-line, and quality of play, doing little to excite the vast quantity of supporters who piled through the turnstiles. As has been the case on a few occasions across the season, the early game had failed to deliver the excitement it looked to have promised, raising questions as to whether the mid-day start is detrimental to the quality of the on-field display.

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In recent weeks, many of the Premier League’s early kick-off’s have been subdued affairs, with Chelsea playing out some far from enthralling mid-day ties against both Tottenham and Norwich, and various others not quite matching up to the rip-roaring affairs produced throughout the rest of the afternoon. Although from time to time games of football will disappoint, it seems that increasingly high quantities of ties away from the traditional kick-off period are lacklustre affairs.

To attend one of the Premiership’s earlier starting games, fans often have to crawl from their slumber prior the break of dawn, before stumbling onto some form of transport to make the journey to the venue for the spectacle. Consequently once they have arrived, there is a slightly groggy ambiance, particularly during the winter months, decreasing the chances of an intimidating atmosphere, aside from some local derby ties. Although players have, arguably, the greater responsibility when it comes to inspiring, if they themselves are struggling, a subdued crowd will find it difficult to aid the men on the pitch. As a result the feeling around the ground can be, at times, one of an apathetic nature, with a lack of commitment from either party.

Kick-off times are unlikely to change, as the Premier League looks to market itself as a global brand. To stick to the traditional 3pm start would see other leagues from across the world gain a greater following in the football mad Far-East and North America, with the financial rewards they offer eventually devaluing the English game. It looks like the alteration of kick-off’s is here to stay, and we may just have to live with some lacklustre mid-day ties.

What are your thoughts? Comment or follow @Alex_Hams on Twitter to have your say

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Roberto Martinez will decide tomorrow whether or not he wants to be Liverpool’s latest manager. It seems like an easy decision for someone so highly regarded but is he really the man to oversee an Anfield rebuilding process?

It’s difficult to know what side of the fence is more comfortable for fans. Some say Martinez is a good manager with a lot of potential who plays football the right way. Others say he’s too young, too inexperienced and has little outstanding achievements on his CV to warrant taking over a club as big as Liverpool. Club captain Steven Gerrard was diplomatic about his potential arrival:

“I’m aware Roberto Martinez has been talking to the club but all I’ve heard about him is positive. If he is going to be the manager he’s got my full support.”

Both sides of the argument raise interesting points so perhaps the best way to see whether he’s the right man for the job is to weigh up the pros and cons of his impending appointment.

First the pros which show Martinez has a decent managerial record after spells with Swansea City and Wigan Athletic. He’s earned a reputation for playing attractive football and it’s the style of play he’s imprinted on his teams that the Anfield hierarchy will hope he can bring with him to Merseyside.

It was eye-catching football that earned him his chance to manage in the Premier League but he also left Swansea with an impressive win rate of 50% from 126 matches. His style was so well received that the club has strived to continue that precedent and many Swansea fans note the importance of Martinez’s reign as a precursor to the eventual success enjoyed by Brendan Rodgers.

So far so good and Martinez has continued this trend at Wigan. Having survived relegation twice he’s now a hero in Lancashire and with excellent support from Chairman Dave Whelan has managed to keep his team in the top flight using a style of play more akin to European competition than a relegation battle. Whelan told BBC Sport:

“I should not be saying how good Roberto is because I want to keep him. There’s no question he’s the best young manager in Europe.”

Perhaps Liverpool would be lucky to have him but just because Martinez is currently the flavour of month doesn’t mean things have always gone swimmingly for him. Overachieving with Wigan is all well and good but is surviving in the Premier League as impressive as it sounds?

The cons say no as Wigan have been in the Premier League for 7 seasons and should really have established themselves by now. The previous season Martinez just kept Wigan up on the final day and yet he was given legend status for effectively being the best of the worst. He followed that with an abysmal start to last season losing 8 straight matches early on and failed to win at home for 7 months. This included winning only 4 matches between August and February and led to Wigan being unanimously written off in their quest for survival. They also won only 5 home matches all last season and given the recent struggles experienced by Liverpool in front their own fans, is that something they will want to see continue next term?

Martinez was adamant that points would come if they kept playing the same way and ultimately he was right. Wigan edged away from the relegation zone and picked up some impressive results towards the end of the season but Liverpool fans will expect success, not be pleasantly surprised by it.

Most supporters are fairly underwhelmed by his imminent arrival and feel the club needs a more established man to take them forward. Considering the names being linked it’s understandable that Martinez would feel like a step down to many supporters dreaming of a blockbuster name.

The powers that be see it differently and Liverpool’s search for a new boss has seen them linked with up and coming managers like Frank de Boer, Brendan Rodgers and Andre Villas-Boas so clearly they want someone young to start a new era at Anfield. Experienced leaders like Pep Guardiola, Fabio Capello and Louis van Gaal have been considered but not pursued although the Dutchman is being linked with a senior role at the club, perhaps to babysit any eventual appointment.

It would appear the cons outweigh the pros. Like many Martinez has been criticised during his career but he’s also been applauded for the way he recovers from adversity. He’s admired for his persistence and his adaptability but he’s also struggled for large parts of the season so will Fenway Sports Group provide the same support Whelan gave him in order to turn things around?

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Clearly Martinez’s style is attractive but his CV doesn’t compare with more impressive candidates so there are question marks over his ability to bring Liverpool the success they crave. Whether fans are for or against him, he’ll have a lot to prove at Anfield and will have to hit the ground running quickly to show why so much faith has been put on his aspiring shoulders.

Do you want Martinez as Liverpool manager? Are Liverpool making a mistake appointing the Spaniard? Should John W. Henry be looking for a more experienced leader?

Let me know your views and opinions by following me on twitter – Tweet me @Alex_Churcher

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Former England international Ian Wright believes that the Three Lions need to push forward more often and test the opposing defenders if they are to go any further in Euro 2012.

Speaking after Roy Hodgson’s side secured a quarter-final spot against Italy with a narrow 1-0 win over co-hosts Ukraine, the former Arsenal player insisted that there is still work to be done if England want to challenge for the title.

“We have to start getting behind the defence more and putting in more crosses. We have shown in our opening three games that when we do that we are a real threat and can score goals,” Wright said in an interview with The Sun.

“It is good to be resilient but it is not enough on its own. We need to create chances as well.”

“It was not the greatest England performance but it doesn’t matter. We won and we’re through and it is one in the eye for all the Three Lions doubters and haters out there.”

“I have to say I thought Steven Gerrard was outstanding. The skipper led by example in one of his best games in recent years for England.”

Wright revealed he optimistic despite a disappointing performance from Wayne Rooney on his return from suspension, and affirmed his belief that the Three Lions can beat the Azzurri.

“He [Rooney] was a bit off the pace and understandably so, having not played for so long. That game and that goal will have done him the world of good and hopefully he will only get stronger from now on.”

“Of course we can [beat Italy]. They’ll be thinking they can beat us as well but I am confident about playing them. We are at the stage now where every game is tough. We can beat Italy — but we have to play better than we did last night.”

However, despite his belief that England can advance to the semi-final stage Wright remained sceptical on their chances of winning the competition as a whole.

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“Going by the way we played in the first three games, it seems unlikely that we will win the tournament. If we were to beat Italy, we would then face Germany or Greece in the last four.

“We probably need to be able to keep the ball and create more. But what Hodgson has given us is a fighting chance.”

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As the White Hart Lane hierarchy embark on their quest for a new manager, their Merseyside counterparts are sitting comfortably with their new man already in place. Former Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers has been trusted to fill the Anfield hot seat but as Tottenham Hotspur start the long and arduous task of interviewing the same set of names Liverpool just finished perusing, has Rodgers signed away his future prematurely?

Naturally the aspiring Northern Irishman will be eager to embrace his new role at such a historic club but Spurs have leapfrogged Liverpool in the Premier League recently and currently possess a better squad of players. Rodgers also earned his glowing reputation by playing beautiful football, something more commonly attributed to the North London side despite Liverpool’s decades of success. Former manager Harry Redknapp blended a group of skilful players into an attractive passing side while Kenny Dalglish’s efforts created a more workmanlike feel that focused more on British directness than European flair. If Rodgers wanted to walk into a readymade Swansea upgrade then Tottenham would probably have been his preferred choice. Still he’s excited by the potential project the Anfield club have in store for him and is unlikely to regret such a hypothetical situation when he has an enticing opportunity ahead of him. He told the BBC:

“This is long-term, that was important to me, to come into a project over a number of years.

“For me, the attraction is to defend the principles of this great club — offensive football with tactical discipline and to retain the values of the club.

“That was the attraction, along with the history of the club.

So Rodgers is embracing his new surroundings and with the motivation of returning Liverpool to their former glory, any prospect of filling the White Hart Lane dugout has effectively diminished. Spurs are now reportedly interviewing familiar names like Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Martinez who were both considered by the Fenway Sports Group prior to Rodgers’ appointment. Given how suitable the Northern Irishman would’ve been for the role in North London, did Spurs miss a trick but not appointing Rodgers sooner?

After all he was tipped to replace Redknapp back in April when the wheeler dealer was odds on to fill Fabio Capello’s England shoes. Had Chairman Daniel Levy been more accommodating then Redknapp could well have been coaching in Poland and Ukraine this summer but instead Tottenham’s season petered out and their former boss is playing the role of pundit not coach. A Tottenham insider told the Mirror:

“There’s been an increasing belief for months that a parting was inevitable. We could sense that there was a different agenda for the board and the manager.

“The England speculation did affect people. It seemed it was just a matter of time when Harry left to replace Capello.”

Levy had lined Rodgers up to replace Redknapp if he eventually accepted the England post but the FA’s decision to appoint Roy Hodgson left Spurs in limbo. With Redknapp still contracted to the club and Rodgers then accepting the Liverpool post it was deemed the best solution would be for the former West Ham and Portsmouth boss to see out the final year of his deal. Reports suggest Redknapp then changed agents and pushed for a longer deal so Levy nipped the situation in the bud meaning Spurs now find themselves without a manager or their preferred replacement. Names like former favourite Jurgen Klinsmann may get fans talking but is was the credentials of Rodgers that suited them best. Villas-Boas is currently the odds on favourite but his stock has fallen since his failure at Chelsea while Martinez seems to have committed himself to Wigan despite being interviewed for nearly every position under the sun this summer.

While Tottenham may not be able to get their ‘most wanted’ in Rodgers, they offer an exciting challenge for prospective employees and still possess enough of an attraction to draw some of the best names in Europe. France manager Laurent Blanc and former Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick are some of the other names being linked and with so many talented individuals vying for such a coveted position, it would appear they may not suffer too much without Rodgers. After all Liverpool’s owners might have more money to invest but their squad is in much more pressing need of an overhaul than Tottenham. Whoever the new man turns out to be, he will inherit a better team than Rodgers currently has and if players like Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale can be convinced to stay then they can challenge for silverware immediately instead of having to build a progressive project.

Rodgers was highly sought after because Swansea played a brand of football that the majority of Premier League teams would’ve been happy to replicate. He perhaps could’ve implemented his philosophy a lot quicker at Spurs but Liverpool will provide him with the suitable challenge his fledgling managerial career needs. Meanwhile Levy’s search for success means Tottenham must go back square one and while they may be ahead of Liverpool currently, fail to find a suitable replacement and some envious glares will be heading out of North London come the end of the season.

Do you think Brendan Rodgers would’ve been better suited at Spurs? Who do you want in charge at White Hart Lane? Will Liverpool finish higher than Tottenham next season?

Let me know your views and opinions by following me on Twitter – Tweet me @Alex_Churcher

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Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher’s future is in doubt, and Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that the Scotland international may not make pre-season for the Red Devils.

The combative midfielder was ruled out half-way through last season due to a chronic bowel condition, and as such has been undergoing rehabilitation.

Fletcher was expected to have sufficient time to get back to his best for next season, but Ferguson has confessed that his countryman may not be ready to return.

“We’ll wait and see about that,” Mirror Football report Ferguson as saying.

“Obviously, the boy is trying very hard to get back to his level. It’s not going to be easy, but we’ll give him every possible chance and we’ll see how it goes.

“He kept himself active towards the end of the season when he replaced Paul Scholes as reserves coach when Scholes decided to come back as a player.

“Darren’s a terrific lad, and we all hope he can come back,” he affirmed.

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By Gareth McKnight

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During the Euros, there were many points to discuss and ponder upon – will England ever win a trophy? Should Ronaldo have taken an earlier penalty kick? Why is Balotelli so hot and cold? Yet one question may become more vital than all of these put together – will we be seeing more of the Spanish inspired 4-6-0 formation in seasons to come?

When the Spanish squad was first announced, people did question the omission of strikers such as Soldado, who had a brilliant season in the league, and concerns were raised over the fact Villa was missing through injury and whether Torres was the right man to take.

After seeing Cesc played as a striker, concerns began to grow more and more prominent, yet Spain managed to navigate their way to the final with a little bit of luck on the way, and anyone who saw their performance against Italy and their use of the 4-6-0 formation could not have criticised the way they moved the ball around and the genius of the talents that are Xavi and Iniesta.

The rave reviews and yet another trophy to add to the collection has won even more admirers, yet will we be seeing more of the formation that they utilised to such effect?

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I am not talking about a parking the bus type formation, something Mourinho once accused Spurs of doing, yet it is worth considering that football formations have changed and evolved over the years, with the once ever present 4-4-2 giving way to the 4-3-3 and flying wings, or indeed the 4-5-1 depending on who your manager is, yet will we ever truly see the 4-6-0?

It seems ludicrous to suggest that an out and out forward will one day no longer be required in the game, a quality striker up top, either in the form of a big powerful and frankly on their day unplayable striker like Drogba, or a goal poacher like Van Nistlerooy who can both get 20 plus goals in a season.

It is also vital for people to remember most teams do not have a Xavi and an Iniesta to boss the midfield, or even if they have a player that comes close to such quality this alone cannot make the sheer amount of goals needed to win titles and important games.

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The Spanish side, much like the Barcelona one of seasons just past, is one of a generation, and has combined what the top two teams in the world have to offer in Real Madrid and Barcelona, and on their day just look something else. It is doubtful that another side could recreate such a mesmerising performance, and certainly not in the absence of any centre forward.

Yes football will evolve, and formations will always be tinkered with – perhaps not to the Ranieri levels – but change is essential to keep the game moving forward, and credit where it is due, the 4-6-0 certainly worked for the Spanish during Euro 2012, but to suggest the role of a main centre forward is dying out in favour of a silky smooth midfield seems somewhat wide of the mark.

Despite a miserable few years for Liverpool, Brendon Rodgers is confident the club can finish in the top four this season and return to Champions League football.

The former Swansea boss can’t wait to get going, but fully understand the pressure that the Liverpool job brings with it.

“I’ve said right from the off I want to make us as competitive as we can possibly be,” The Liverpool boss told Sky Sports.

“The challenge at the top of the table is greater than ever. Now there are seven or eight teams involved but the top four is certainly not something we’ll shy away from.

“It’s where a club of this status wants to be but it’s always easier said than done and the reality over the past three seasons or so hasn’t been that.

“Our job is to try to push on. There has been a lot of work done over the last few years to try to get the club back into the top echelons of the league so we are hoping to do that.”

“There has been a lot of change and a lot of work going on and of course every manager wants patience but the reality of football means that’s not the way it works,” he added.

“The challenges are great and the pressures at this level are great.

“There is a long way to go for us. We will be better next year than we are this year because there will have been more time to work with the players and they will have adapted more to my methods.

“But all we can do is retain our focus and concentration to improve how we play and, more importantly, to be effective.

“A system or style is not very good if you’re not winning games. You have to win matches.

“Your principles are based on the players you have and hopefully over the next number of years we will be able to bring in certain types which allow us to play a certain way.

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“Until that moment comes the players are working tirelessly and relentlessly to improve their game and get results and at this early stage it is very promising for them.”

 

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Raheem Sterling’s electrifying Premier League debut against Manchester City conjured one of the most incredible atmospheres ever witnessed at Anfield. His pace, trickery and desire to impress raised fans to their feet as he dominated proceedings down the left flank, teasing the country with a glimpse of his much publicised potential.

The emergence of Sterling has disguised a somewhat indifferent start to Liverpool’s season, much in the same way that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Arsenal fans a glimmer of hope last year. The importance of gifting youngsters the opportunity to shine is an incredible undervalued managerial trait, especially as it seems to raise morale drastically and inspire the experienced professionals to raise their own standards.

With this in mind I have collated a collection of talented individuals who should be awarded the creative freedom to strut their stuff in front of an enthusiastic audience. If little else it will further disprove Alan Hansen’s theory that “you can’t win anything with kids”

Click on Suso below to reveal the top ten

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Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub

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It’s easy to come away from Arsenal’s win at Liverpool with a lot of optimism for the near future. It’s also easy to paint over any good work done by the club this summer with a black brush due to the high-profile departures. But so far, it’s hard not to find some form of understanding with Arsene Wenger’s thinking going into the season.

The obvious area to address was how the club would replace Robin van Persie’s 30 league goals from last season. Considering that Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski have come in from other countries and may need some time to adapt, it might be a fair assessment to say the club have moved sideways rather than forward. If, however, van Persie had remained at the club this season, Arsenal would look a much stronger side with ambitions that could match those further up the league table.

It’s not that Giroud or Podolski are bad players, but where’s the depth? Where’s the cushion to fall back on when your new recruits don’t hit the ground running? It was also brought up recently that Arsenal are in fact in the same position as they were last season with regards to their strikers; if Giroud is injured or out of action for any length of time, do the club really want to rely on Marouane Chamakh?

But I think it’s interesting to see that Arsene Wenger is making the most of the resources he has to him, both in terms of cash and playing personnel.

Santi Cazorla’s signing this summer was a masterstroke. It hardly needed the match away at Liverpool to tell that this is one of the most technically gifted and creative midfielders in all of Europe. But instead of raising the question as to why other big clubs didn’t go after him, rather look to the excellent eye for a bargain by the Arsenal manager. While clubs in the Premier league are looking for reinforcements in England, Wenger has found a real magician in a foreign league for a bargain price. I don’t think anyone could argue that Cazorla isn’t good enough for any club in the world. His versatility, calmness in the midfield and status in European football is such an incredible boost to Arsenal.

The loss of Alex Song certainly prompted many to expect an arrival of a similar player on transfer deadline day, and it would be foolish to suggest there wasn’t some degree of disappointment in Arsenal’s failure to strengthen or replace in that area. But what has been really pleasing to see is Arsenal’s lack of reliance on a genuine holding or defensive midfielder. Sure, I recently flagged up that area as a position of weakness even with Song in the team, but the combination of Mikel Arteta and Cazorla really add something different.

While trying very hard not to get carried away, Arsenal’s midfield—whether you want to include Diaby as the consistent third in the midfield trio—look to use their strength of awareness, ball retention and calmness under pressure to combat the loss of an Alex Song figure in the side.

I made the point recently that Arsenal looked like they were attacking with 11 players but defending with only 10. It was clear that Alex Song’s desire to get further up the pitch left a huge gap in the midfield for the opposition to exploit. Now, it seems like there is a real hunger from these current midfield players to help one another out and take up their defensive responsibilities. It would, however, be foolish to assume this Arsenal team could sail through the season without a real defensive midfielder. But it does appear that Wenger has a lot of faith in Francis Coquelin to fill in that role where needed, while Diaby—provided he can stay fit—will feature in the bigger and much more open games.

As I said, it’s important not to get carried away with this Arsenal side following their impressive win at Anfield, but it is clear that the squad is short of a few bodies. Attacking and at both full-back positions could prove to be a problem going forward: Arsenal are never far from a long term injury to a key player.

But Steve Bould has arguably been one of the signings of the season, as the new assistant manager has surely played an enormous role in helping the club to three league clean sheets in a row—two of which featured the third choice keeper.

It’s more of a frustration that the club didn’t do what they could to ensure this team could challenge for the title this season. But away from that, the versatility of a few members in the squad—namely Cazorla, Podolski, Gervinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain—leave this Arsenal team deceptively strong.

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Key members have departed the club this summer, but at least Wenger has completed some very exciting and clever moves during the window.

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Kieron Dyer has praised manager Mark Hughes for believing in him after finally making a successful Premier League appearance for Queens Park Rangers.

The England international had made only three appearances for the London club with none of them lasting longer than 30 minutes.

Yet on Sunday the 33-year-old completed 87 minutes against Tottenham Hotspur and reminded everyone of the qualities he possesses which have helped him to 33 England caps, during an injury plagued career. Speaking to The Independent Dyer said: “I played 60 minutes in midweek and 90 today, so I’m getting minutes under my belt.

“I haven’t missed a training session this season and been available for every game so things are going great for me. I haven’t played regularly for four years, so hopefully, I’m still classed as a 28-year-old and not a 33-year-old.”

The former Newcastle United man saw his season finished in just seven minutes last term, getting injured in that time period during QPR’s opening day defeat to Bolton Wanderers.

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“At the start of last season it was just a freak injury when my studs got caught in the ground and my foot gave way. Since the new staff came in, the manager and the medical team have been brilliant with me,” he added.